Objective To explore if continuous administration of adenosine by peripheral pathway can attenuate myocardial hypertrophy and pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH)caused by chronic hypoxia and analyze the dose-effect relationships between them.Methods Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided into 8 groups:the hypoxia group(n=6),the hypoxia ade-nosine-treated groups [n=18,adenosine was administrated with different doses 50,100,150 ?g/(kg?min),the hypoxia adenosine-treated group A,B,C],the control group(n=6),the control adenosine-treated control groups [n=18,adenosine was administrated with different doses 50,100,150 ?g/(kg?min),the control adenosine-treated control group A,B,C].On the 21st day of the experiment,the Medlab-U/4CS was used to determined the right ventricular systolic pressure(RVSP)and the mean pulmonary arterial pressure(mPAP)of each rat.The ratio of the weight of right ventricle/left ventricle and septum[RV/(LV+S)] and the ratio of the weight of right ventricle/body weight(RV/BW)were also calculated.The morphological changes in myocardium cells and pulmonary vascular structure were observed.SAS 8.0 software was used to analyze the data.Results Twenty-one days after hypoxia,RVSP,mPAP,RV/(LV+S),RV/BW in hypoxia groups were higher significantly than those in control group and hypoxia adenosine-treated groups(Pa

OBJECTIVERecent studies showed that adenosine played important roles in vasodilation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of adenosine, its A1 and A2b receptor agonists on pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) induced by chronic hypoxia in rats by continuously subcutaneous administration with an osmotic pump for 14 days, and to see if rennin angiotensin system and inducible nitric oxygen synthase (iNOS)/nitric oxide (NO) mediate the effects.

METHODFifty-six male SD rats were randomly assigned to seven groups. Each group included eight rats. They were normoxic group, hypoxic group, adenosine-treated group [adenosine was administered at a dose of 150 µg(kg·min) under the hypoxic condition], adenosine A1 receptor agonist CPA-treated group [CPA was administered at a dose of 20 µg/(kg·min) under the hypoxic condition], CPA plus selective adenosine A1 antagonist DPCPX-treated group [CPA and DPCPX were administered simultaneously under the hypoxic condition, the dose of CPA was the same as the above, and the dose of DPCPX was 25 µg/(kg·min)], adenosine A2b receptor agonist NECA-treated group [NECA was administered at a dose of 30 µg/(kg·min) under the hypoxic condition], NECA plus selective adenosine A2b receptor antagonist MRS-treated group[ NECA and MRS1754 were administered simultaneously under the hypoxic condition, the dose of NECA was the same as the above, and the dose of MRS1754 was 50 µg/(kg·min)]. Osmotic pumps containing adenosine or selective adenosine A1 receptor agonist (CPA), or nonselective but potent adenosine A2b receptor agonist (NECA) were placed subcutaneously 7 days after hypoxia and continuously administered the agents for 14 days.Mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) was detected after administration of the agents. Then blood samples were taken from heart for measurement of renin activity, angiotensin II (AngII) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) concentration by radioimmunoassay, NO by measuring nitrate. Small pulmonary arteries were prepared for immunoreactivity staining of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and iNOS.

RESULT(1) Chronic hypoxia induced PAH [mPAP: (31.38 ± 3.42) mm Hg]. Adenosine or CPA or NECA administered for 14 days by subcutaneous route attenuated the mPAP [(21.17 ± 3.56) mm Hg, (22.88 ± 2.95) mm Hg, (19.81 ± 2.39) mm Hg, respectively], which showed significant difference when compared with hypoxia group (P < 0.05 respectively). (2) Plasma rennin activity and AngII level in hypoxia group [(2.51 ± 0.25) ng/(ml·h), (83.01 ± 9.38) pg/ml] were significantly higher than that in normoxic group (P < 0.05, respectively).(3) Adenosine treatment decreased the rennin activity and AngII level when compared with hypoxic group(P < 0.05, respectively);CPA and NECA attenuated respectively the rennin activity and AngII level of rats induced by chronic hypoxia (P < 0.05, respectively). (4) Adenosine administration for 14 days attenuated the wall thickness induced by chronic hypoxia (P < 0.05). CPA showed no effect on wall thickness, but NECA significantly attenuated the wall thickness (P < 0.05). (5) The number of iNOS staining positive cells in small pulmonary artery was higher in hypoxia group than in that in normoxic rats (23.75 ± 7.91 vs. 8.00 ± 2.20, P < 0.05). Adenosine or CPA, or NECA administration increased respectively the iNOS expression in rats treated with chronic hypoxia. Chronic hypoxia caused significant decrease of nitric oxide level. Adenosine treatment increased the nitric oxide level in rats treated with chronic hypoxia. CPA and NECA also increased respectively the nitric oxide level in rats treated with chronic hypoxia. Chronic hypoxia caused significant increase of ET-1 level. The ET-1 level in rats treated with adenosine, CPA or NCEA respectively were lower than that in chronic hypoxia rats (P < 0.05). (6) Adenosine treatment partially attenuated the number of PCNA-positively stained cells. NECA treatment also attenuated the PCNA expression, but CPA showed no effect.

CONCLUSIONAdenosine and its agonists CPA, NECA administered continually by subcutaneous route attenuate mPAP of rats induced by chronic hypoxia. CPA attenuates mPAP through reduction of RA/AngII activity and balance of NO/ET-1 level. NECA attenuates mPAP by inhibiting PCNA expression and proliferation of mooth muscle of pulmonary artery.

Adenosine ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Angiotensin II ; blood ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Endothelin-1 ; metabolism ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; drug therapy ; etiology ; metabolism ; Hypoxia ; complications ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Artery ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Purinergic P1 Receptor Agonists ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Renin ; blood

Humans ; Hypertensive Encephalopathy ; etiology ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch ; complications ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo construct luxS mutant aften luxS gene of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) was knocked out, and examine their ability of biofilm formation.

METHODSA recombinant plasmid containing the flanking fragment of luxS of S. mutans was transformed into S. mutans UA159, and selected by brain heart infusion (BHI) agar medium with kanamicin. The luxS mutant further confirmed via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the autoinducer-2 (AI-2) bioluminescence assay of Vibrio harveyi (V. harveyi), and ability of luxS mutant and S. mutans UA159 biofilm formation was examined in different phases, in BHI medium with 1% sucrose and 1% glycose by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

RESULTSLuxS-deficient S. mutans strains were successfully constructed. Compared with S. mutans UA159, the luxS mutant maintained in BHI medium containing 1% sucrose displayed an apparent defect in biofilm formation, while they showed no significant deviation in BHI medium containing 1% glycose.

CONCLUSIONluxS gene in S.mutans can play a role in dental plaque biofilm formation, and the luxS gene is possible to regulate sucrose-dependent biofilm formation.

Bacterial Proteins ; Biofilms ; Carbon-Sulfur Lyases ; Culture Media ; Dental Plaque ; Homoserine ; analogs & derivatives ; Humans ; Lactones ; Streptococcus mutans

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation between morphological variation and gentiopicroside content in cultivated Gentiana manshurica roots and to investigate the feasibility of breeding new varieties of high effective constituent content.

METHODGentiopicroside was determined in 5 morphological types of cultivated G. manshurica roots by HPLC, which are normal (or wild) type, white-flowered type, thick-rooted type, broad-leaved type I and broad-leaved type II.

RESULTAmong different types gentiopicroside content is the highest in the roots of thick-rooted type, the contents decrease as following order: normal type, broad-leaved type I white-flowered type and broad-leaved type II, and the gentiopicroside contents in the same type root system are a positive correlation with root ages, as 3-years-age roots > 2-years-age roots > 1-year-age varied with roots.

CONCLUSIONThe contents of effective constituent vary with the morphological variation in cultivated G. manshurica. It is feasible to breed a new variety with high effective constituent with the morphological character as a selecting index.

Genetic Variation ; Gentiana ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; classification ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Iridoid Glucosides ; Iridoids ; analysis ; Plant Roots ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; classification ; Pyrans ; analysis ; Species Specificity

OBJECTIVESince 2011 EB-APS conference, we hypotheses that phase switching of inspiration-expiration is dominantly initiated by oscillatory information PaO2, PaCO2 and [H+] via fast peripheral chemical receptors. However, the evidence of the waveform of ABG is lack.

METHODSSix surgery patients with normal heart function and negative Allen test, had been placed the arterial catheterization directly connected to 3 x 1 000 mm pre-heparin plastic pipe for continuous collecting arterial blood. We counted the number of heart beat for the blood collecting time, and separated the blood pipe into the heart beat numbers' short pieces using haemostatic forceps, then put pipe into iced water at once fir analyzing PaO2, PaCO2, pH and SaO2 as soon as possible. We selected two breaths cycles of waveform from each patient for data calculations of magnitudes and time interval.

RESULTSThe heart beat numbers for filling blood into pipe were 16 ± 2, and all covered more than 2 breathing cycles. Each breathing cycle is cover 5 ± 0.6 heart beat. There were significant changes of PaO2, PaCO2, [H+] a and SaO2 (i.e. the highest high values compare to the next lowest values, P < 0.05). The time interval of changing PaO2, PaCO2, [H+]a and SaO2 magnitudes were 11.28 ± 1.13 mmHg, 1.77 ± 0.89 mmHg, 1.14 ± 0.35 nmol/L and 0.52% ± 0.44% respectively.

CONCLUSIONThis simple continuous beat-by-beat arterial blood sampling and ABG analyzing method is new and practicable. We obtain a clear evidence of periodic parameters ABG waveform, which following breathing cycle.

Arteries ; physiology ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; methods ; Respiration

AIMTo investigate the neuroprotective effect of ginsenoside Rg1 on dopaminergic neurons of substantia nigra in ovariectomized rat model of Parkinson's disease and the possible mechanisms.

METHODSWistar female rats were ovariectomized and treated with vehicle, ginsenoside Rg1 or 17-beta estradiol intracerebroventricularly in the 6-OHDA induced rat model of Parkinson's disease. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactive neurons and the protein expression of Bcl-2. Perls' iron staining was used to determine the changes of iron in substantia nigra (SN).

RESULTS910 Rg1 or 17-beta estradiol treatment could ameliorate the rat's rotational behavior induced by apomorphine. 92) Rg1 or 17-beta estradiol treatment could increase TH immunoreactive neurons in the injured side of SN compared to the 6-OHDA group. (3) Iron staining in the injured side of SN was significantly increased comparing with the contralateral side in the 6-OHDA group. Rg1 or 17-beta estradiol treatment could reverse the increase of iron staining. (4) Both Rg1 and 17-beta estradiol treatment could increase Bcl-2 protein expression in the injured side of SN compared to the 6 OHDA group.

CONCLUSIONGinsenoside Rg1 has estrogen-like activities and has neuroprotective effects on the dopaminergic neurons in the 6-OHDA induced ovariectomyzed(OVX) rat model of Parkinson's disease (PD). This effect may be attributed to attenuating iron overload and anti-apoptosis.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dopaminergic Neurons ; drug effects ; Female ; Ginsenosides ; pharmacology ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Ovariectomy ; Oxidopamine ; Parkinson Disease, Secondary ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Substantia Nigra ; drug effects ; metabolism

This study was purposed to detect the serum concentrations of interleukin-17 (IL-17) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM), and to investigate its clinical significance. the serum IL-17 levels in 33 patients with MM and 20 normal control subjects were quantified by using double antibody sandwich ELISA, and serum β2-microglobulin (β2-MG) levels were detected by radioimmunoassay. The results showed that the serum concentrations of IL-17 and β2-MG in patients with MM were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.001), the serum concentrations of IL-17 and β2-MG in active stage were significantly higher than those in stable stage (P < 0.05), the serum concentrations of IL-17 and β2-MG were significantly higher in stage III than that in stage II according to International Staging System (ISS) (P < 0.05), the serum IL-17 and β2-MG levels were significantly correlated (r = 0.690, P < 0.05). It is concluded that the serum IL-17 level correlates with active/stable stages of MM and staging of MM, IL-17 may play an important role in development stage and prognosis of this disease.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-17 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; blood ; pathology ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis

Objective This study was undertaken to examine possible relationship between attempted suicide and underachievement,bullying,low life satisfaction and low self-concept at school.Methods An anonymous self-report survey assessing demographic characteristics and the major risk factors of teenage attempted suicide was completed by students from 16 middle schools in grades seven to twelve in 4 counties of Anhui province (age 10 to 21 years).An anonymous questionnaire was used to rate attempted suicide,bullying involvement and learning performance.Attempted suicide was defined as: experiencing specific suicide actions at least one time during the 12 months preceding the survey.Multidimensional Students' Life Satisfaction Scale and Children' s Self-concept Scale were used to evaluate satisfaction and self-conscience on and at respectively.In total,10 894 respondents substantially completed the survey.Multiple logistic-regression analyses,controlling for socio-demographic variables,was used to analyze if underachievement,bullying,low school life satisfaction and low children' s self-conscience at school had been risk factors.Results 629 participants (5.8%) reported having made at least one attempted suicide within the last 12 months.Students being underachieved were significantly having more attempted suicide events than those excellent students (X2=11.39,P=0.023).Students being both bully-victims and practiced bully were significantly more than those being only practiced bully (28.7% vs.15.8%,P＜0.001),being victims (28.7% vs.10.6%,P＜0.001) or having neither of them (28.7% vs.4.8%,P＜0.001).Results from multiple logistic regression analyses showed that underachievement,bullying,lower school life satisfaction and low self-conscience were risk factors for attempted suicide.Conclusion Data from this study confirmed that school bullying and children' s self-conscience at school were significantly associated with attempted suicide among rural middle school students in Anhui province.It is of importance to improve the school' s environments to reduce the risk of attempted suicide among this group.

Objective To investigate the AIDS-related high risk behaviors of men who havesex with men (MSM) who ever exchanged money for the same sex. Methods Target sampling forcross-sectional study and valid anonymous questionnaires were adopted to compare the differences ofAIDS-related high risk behaviors between MSM with the experience of exchanging money for thesame sex and those without that experience. 1959 rstadied samples were recruited in nine cities. SPSS13.0 was used and t, x 2 and Mann-Whitney tests were taken for statistical analysis. ResultsCompared to corresponding ones without "buying" the same sex experience, MSM who ever engagedin "buying" sex had the characteristics of being prone to in marriage and living in larger cities witholder age and higher income (P＜0.01). They also had a significant larger number in the followingevents: total sexual panners, anal sex and oral sex episodes with same sex, number of sexualpartners, anal sex and oral sex in the previous six months, with the figure of median 50.0, 20.0,20.0, 5.0,4.0,5.0 respectively. 31.5% had ever participated in 'group sex', 48.0% had sex with malepartners away from his own region in the previous year, 70.5% had sexual intercourse withstrangers at MSM avenues in the last six months. The OR (95% CI) values were 2.288( 1.702-3.077), 3.231 (2.462-4.241 ), 2.840 (2.140-3.770). All the above mentioned figures werehigher than those without the experience, with significant differences. They had a significant lower rate of 45.7% of condom use while having sex with female partners (P＜0.05). Conclusion MSM with the experience of exchanging money for the same sex would have more AIDS-related high risk behaviors, AIDS preventative measures should be taken to target different subgroups.